If you are like me then at the end of everyday you have an email inbox that isn’t quite empty. There is always another client to help or another project that needs completed. Sometimes, it’s waiting for someone to get back to you so you can complete your work. I find it hard to rest at times like these. My head lays down on the pillow and my mind races with what I will do tomorrow. I often wonder, “Will tomorrow finally be the day when my work is done?” Sadly, this day has not yet come.

But what about Jesus? If there was anyone who had a heavenly mission that lasted forever it must certainly be Jesus, right? I can imagine at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry his “inbox” was empty. (Actually, his mother even sent him a quick message before he was “hired” and asked one small favor.) When Jesus came down from the mountain after fasting for an enormous amount of time and being nourished by the angels, his “inbox” was now ready to be filled.

His, and my, Father started giving him work to do. In our eyes we see the works that God prepared for Jesus given to him and fulfilled completely. God was Jesus’ client, not the world. God was the one requesting the work to be done, not the disciples or Mary and Martha. We seem to forget sometimes who is calling the shots, and when we lose sight of that, our work is neverdone.

“I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.” – John 17:4

WHAT? Had I been the disciple on the mountain hearing Jesus say these words, I may not have said it out loud, but my mind would certainly have objected. There were still towns that needed to have the gospel preached. The sick and dying were still present. The multitudes still needed to be fed and the only one that ever got anything done was Jesus. Now he’s praying and thanking God that his work is complete? He’s got some ‘splaining to do!

But … what a glorious prayer. What if we lived our lives in such close relationship with our Father, that at the end of our lives, we could look toward heaven and say, “God, I have brought you glory! Every task, every conversation, every connection I have made is now complete. Whatever you have asked me to do has been done.” What if we said this at the end of every day? Imagine the peace that would fill our hearts when we stop letting others around us dictate what needs to be done. Truly, truly I say unto you, if you dare to attempt this … you’re going to have a lot of ticked-off people.

I write this to myself more than anyone but if you are reading this and today you (and I) would like to try an experiment, let’s focus on the tasks God gives us today, shall we? Let’s see if we can glorify the Father in the tasks he has given us and at the end of the day, lay our heads on our pillows in perfect peace, knowing that today’s events have been fulfilled, a Father has been glorified, and the works given us have been completed.

“May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me.” – John 21b – 23a

This question is my new favorite. Many decisions that I make are based on this question nowadays. What is it worth to be an owner of BlueFinn? What is it worth to eat this bowl of ice cream? What’s it worth to watch a movie? When something is worth enough to you, you will set your priorities around it.

This or That?

We must make choices each and everyday. When you ask yourself what worth is the choice you’re making then your are giving something else up. Could be money. (If I buy this, then I’ll have less.) Could be time. (If I watch this movie then it’s 2 hours I can’t get back.) Could be calories. (If I eat this then I have to spend more time on the treadmill.) Our choices are never one-sided and that’s hard to swallow when you think about it. You don’t get that choice back.

What Do I Value the Most?

Truth. Some would say that I should say God. However, I have never been led anywhere different than God when I know the truth. I’m not scared of the truth. I certainly don’t have all of it and I really don’t have a lot in one area. That’s what kills me the most is when I think I know everything there is to know about something, then reality sets in. I have some imagery that goes along with that. I see myself standing ankle deep in the water facing the beach and think that I understand the ocean. My feet are wet. I see the sand, but I don’t see the whole picture. When I shout out, “Is this all there is?” someone turns me around and I see a small glimpse of the ocean. I’d like to say that I know the truth about women, evolutionary theory, how two kids from the same parents can turn out completely different, or why bad things happen. Truth is, I don’t. I’m still learning and I have much more patience with others who are on the same journey.

What Do I Value Next?

My family. I have got the most awesomest family a guy could ever want. A wife that never ceases to amaze me. First of all, she loves a character like me; that’s saying something. I have three of THE most adorable children I have ever laid eyes on. I’ll be honest, I’m a little biased. Julie has the confidence to lead people twice her age. If she wanted to be president of the United States, she could do it. Elly will be your best friend with no strings attached. She will hug you and love you like you were part of the family. Wesley will suck you into his smile and you can never get back. It’s like a black hole of happiness. What can you offer me that’s worth more than my family? Nothing. I would go to the ends of the earth to support them and help them.

What Are Your Choices Worth?

I know this post has been a lot about me and so I pose this question to you. What are your priorities? What will you sacrifice to keep those? Your time is precious on the earth and if you aren’t careful it will either slip through your fingers or be taken away in a flash. Don’t waste your time just because you think you have a lot.

Again, Facebook is the start of some great conversations. After the entire Chick-fil-a fiasco, I posted a picture of a KFC billboard that said, “We support Chick-fil-A and their Christian beliefs.” Some liked it, some commented. But the latest was from my aunt, whom I have a great and open relationship. Her last comment and the subject of this post was, “if your god loves everyone, who are you to judge anyone?” And thus the conversation continues.

First, some definitions are in order to put us on the same page.

Love

Many songs and poems are written about this 4-letter word. Do we still have an accurate idea of what this means? I posit that we don’t. Although, there are 4 different connotations of the word “love” in the Greek language, the one I am most concerned with at the moment is agape. This can basically be summarized as non-conditional, everlasting, and selfless commitment to another person. However, it is not a forcing love. I love my wife dearly and would be heartbroken if she ever decided to leave me, but that doesn’t mean that I lock her up if she tries. I allow her to make her own decisions, but regardless of her attitude towards me, I still love her. I believe that the most famous example is that of Christ and his love for humanity. Even while being hung on a cross, he still asked his father to forgive them.

So, does God love everyone? I believe he does. There is much evidence in the Bible that God calls everyone into relationship with Him and I believe that while on this earth everyone has been touched by God and understands that He does love them. The choice to accept this or not still remains. Now, if God loves everyone, is he pleased with everyone? Absolutely not! There are atrocities in this world that my mind cannot even comprehend and when I see the innocent killing of children, inside or outside the womb, I am deeply grieved and have to turn it off before my anger and sadness overwhelm me. Husbands beating wives, neglected children, and even the disobedience of my own children are things that I am not pleased with. Some of these demand greater consequences than others, but in all, they still grieve my heart and the heart of God.

Judge or Judgment

Another word that today has been given a negative connotation because it is widely used out of context. The root of its meaning takes us back to a court room where the judge must make a decision in order to uphold the rules and therefore peace. No one walks into a court room and shouts at the attorney’s and says, “Who are you to judge?” Obviously, it is not the intent nor is it the right of a lawyer to pass judgment. Their job is strictly to present the case to the judge who will ultimately make a decision.

Then there is the topic of justice. If God wasn’t just and fair, then he would cease to be good. In the same way that a judge who looked at the evidence of a murderer and determined, “I love you too much to hurt you, so you can go free.” What a crappy god that would be. Seriously, who wants to honor and serve a god that doesn’t have consequences for evil. We have forgotten in this country that judgment is a good thing. We should all strive to be judged. How are we going to get better if not judged. What kind of Olympics would we have if there were no judges? What kind of sports games would we have if there were no scoreboard? Our judgment, whether from God or some other authority is a good thing.

So, let’s marry these two ideas; love and judgment. Now, the original comment was made that if my God loves why do I judge. The answer to that lies in the fact that I don’t judge. I will not ever take the place of the final decision and the consequences of other people’s actions. Why? Because I have been judged myself in my own heart and found guilty. However, I have been given grace and therefore, I continue to give grace to all others. So, while I do not judge the hearts of homosexuals, I do not agree, nor do I support their lifestyle. Does that mean I hate them? Absolutely not! Why would I hate someone my own creator has loved. I would then be in direct competition with God and that never bodes well for me.

So, do I love others? Yes, absolutely and completely because I have been shown what love is. Do I judge others? Absolutely not. It is not my place, nor do I want the job. It is the wonderful freedom of this country to exercise free speech and I believe that Chick-fil-A has done an excellent job of exercising this right, regardless of what the social consequences might be. If anything else, I encourage you to respect the fact that they have the right to their own opinion whether you agree with them or not. Many other companies have spoken with the same right in support of these issues and I respect them for it as well. In the end, I’ll let God be the judge, and I will lovethem.

“i don’t need al this superstitious crap to live a good, fulfilling life that’s not just about me getting more…”

It got me thinking. Is it true that you don’t need God to live a good fulfilling life? It boiled down to my post,

“Well, of course, you can be a good person without God. That’s because you get to define what “good” means.”

This commenter, “luishomeroremohsiul” was able to say that he could live a good life without all this “superstitious crap”, of which I took to mean “God.”

Can he? If there is no God, is it possible to live a “good” life; to be a “good” person? Absolutely! If there is no God, then who is to say to anyone else that they aren’t a “good” person? You may say society, but what if society is wrong about what “good” is? If you aren’t “good” in this society, then perhaps you are “good” in another one.

Anyway, after posting this status, I was instant messaged about it by my cousin. We had a great conversation instead of an argument (which is a whole other post for later). Then this comment was posted by one of my good college friends. Thus the conversation continues.

(As a human being, I submit that I could be wrong in my ideology. If I am, I will gladly admit it. Will you do the same?)

“… your statement insinuates that because someone doesn’t have God that He won’t see them as a “Good” Person. How do you know this?”

Here is my view on good based on my belief in God. We were created good. We were designed to continually rely on a God that loves us and has our best interest in mind. However, one man and one woman were given a choice; to continue to rely on God to tell us what good meant, or to decide for ourselves (remember the tree of the knowledgeof good and evil). They made a bad choice and it has affected (or infected) mankind ever since.

Thus, to answer your question: Someone who doesn’t have God (who doesn’t rely on Him for knowledge of good and evil) cannot, by definition, be a “good” person.

Can not one still have God and not be a good person,

I suppose it comes down to your definition of “having God” again. I don’t believe that someone who rejects God can be a good person, but I also believe that they can think they can be a good person because they get to choose what “good” means. On the flip side, someone who trusts in God is still not a “good” person, but I will get to that later.

so why can’t you be without God and still be a “Good” Person (not to me or you, but to Him)?

Let me make rephrase the question to make sure I understand. “Can a person who doesn’t believe in God, their creator, still be considered good by God?” No, absolutely not. If my kid leaves the house and disowns me, will I still think they’re a good kid?

Is it not said that God loves everyone, you just have to be willing to take him in your heart?

Absolutely!

That He has a plan for everyone?

Purpose for everyone, but that’s another post too. =)

What if you don’t believe in God or have God in your heart, yet still have all of the same values, morals, etc that a person “with” God does. At that point you are still defining what “good” means, but it looks exactly the same as if they were “with” God?

I will be perfectly transparent here and tell you that I thought the same thing. Why is it that I, as a Christian, can help my elderly neighbor mow their yard and God sees it differently if my atheist neighbor does the same thing? I struggled with this for a LONG time, because it didn’t seem fair. What helped me understand was that it’s not the action that God cares about; it’s the heart. Can God look at someone who has completely rejected him and still think they are good even if they do “good” deeds? No.

Is God defining what a “good person” is to everyone, or each individual?

Back to the heart, not the actions. God defines himself as good. If God looked at a person and saw His own goodness, then obviously He would consider them good. Therefore, God sets the standard for everyone but still cares about each individual.

What about people who have never been introduced to God, where do they fall?

I believe that life is an introduction to God. If you have never been introduced to God, then allow me:

I’m pretty sure that everyone believes in the concept of moral standards. (If you don’t then you can’t argue with me anyway. =) My first question is, do you live up to those standards? I bet anyone could say that they believe in the standard of not stealing but would quickly say that they’ve stolen. Same with lying, cheating, etc. God has his own standard, but doesn’t quickly look to the action, but to the heart. God doesn’t say, “If I could just get this person to stop stealing then they would be a good person.” Instead he says, “If they were a good person, then they would stop stealing.” What is the best way to teach someone how to do something? Send a teacher. Who was that teacher? God himself in human form in the person of Jesus Christ. Why did Jesus come? To show us a better way. Why did he have to die? Because God is fair … and merciful. So, what do you have to do to be a good person? Admit that you haven’t lived up to God’s standard, accept the forgiveness of God, and look to him for knowledge of good and evil. Comes down to two things: love God, love others.

These aren’t questions I think anyone will ever be able to answer until He is met face-to-face…provided you were a “good” person when the time comes.

Unfortunately, that is the lie some have chosen to believe. NO ONE IS GOOD! Even Christ himself rejected the idea that he was good. He chose to point to the Father for the standard of goodness. No believing Christian when asked the question, “Are you a good person?” will ever say, “Yes.” Can’t happen, because it’s logically impossible. A Christian has come to realize that they aren’t a good person and chooses to follow Christ so that God will see Christ’s goodness.

So, all in all, “good” is a relative term. You have to set the standard somewhere. Good wine is different to different people. I think wine in a box is “good” because I have set my own standard. However, if I were to be educated by an expert about “good”, then my standard would get higher. Who sets your standard for “good”?

Beth Moore did it again!!! I always think she’s going to start a series by jumping right into the text. She does an excellent job of asking the questions that we never think of. Then she answers them in a way that makes you realize that only by searching the scriptures with tenacity, can you gain insight and depth. She actually started with this verse and led into these other verses too.

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance[a]: that Christ died for our sinsaccording to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas,[b] and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. – I Corinthians 15:5-8

For even his own brothers did not believe in him. – John 7:5

20 Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. 21 When his family[b] heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.” – Mark 3:20-21

The core of what Beth got across in this video is that even Jesus’ family were unbelievers. They spent much of their time dissuading him from his calling and even his own mother asked him to perform miracles “before his time.”

When Jesus rose, it said that he appeared to certain people. One of which was Peter and she said that was to personally restore him because of his public denial. We read in another account that he appeared to Mary Magdalene personally and we have a detailed account of that interaction. We also have a detailed account of the vision that Saul, “the persecutor” had on the road to Damascus. But in I Corinthians it also claims that he appeared to James. Why would he appear specifically to James?

Beth makes the claim that it was necessary to “fetch” James, and possibly the rest of his family, from their unbelief. Because Jesus cared for his earthly family like a son should, it was necessary to give them hope and a future. Jesus has made a change in my life for the exact same reason. He will appear to you when you need him most.

My Purpose!

Only by the grace of God, do I have the most amazing life possible. My life's purpose is to

Honor my heavenly father by loving, leading, and helping those around me.

- Actively listening and evaluating
- Bring order from chaos
- Educating and training
- Encouraging through truth, love and knowledge
- Testifying that we are made by a Creator, loved by a Savior, and encouraged to be led by the Spirit